JP2004109223A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which has small size and low cost and can record or read images with high accuracy without complicating configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The contour dimension of a Y direction, defined as h1, the contour dimension of a Z direction as W(W>h1), the distance of a laser beam B emitted from a scanning unit 36 toward the Y direction as h2, the arriving distance of the laser beam B to a stimulable phosphor sheet 16 as L, the inclination in the Z direction to a horizontal line as θ(0°<θ<90°), and the inclination of the laser beam B to the holizontal line as ψ(0°<ψ<90°), are set at the relation Wcosθ+h2xsinθ+Lxcosψ<W (where h1xsinθ≤Lxcosψ+h2xsinθ) or Wxcosθ+h1xsinθ<W (where h1xsinθ≥Lxcosψ+h2xsinθ). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that records or reads an image by performing main scanning with a light beam on an object to be scanned.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, an image recording apparatus represented by a laser beam printer is known as an apparatus that scans a sheet using a laser beam and records an image on the sheet.
[0003]
FIG. 13 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional image recording apparatus 1 (see Patent Document 1). In this image recording apparatus 1, a laser beam B modulated according to image information and output from a light source 2 such as a semiconductor laser is reflected by a polygon mirror 3 rotating in the direction of an arrow α, and then the first lens 4, The light is guided to the photosensitive drum 8 that rotates in the direction of arrow β through the first reflection mirror 5, the second reflection mirror 6, and the second lens 7 in this order. As a result, the photosensitive drum 8 is charged according to the image information by the laser beam B, and the toner adheres to the surface according to the charging information. The adhered toner is transferred to a sheet member supplied to the photosensitive drum 8, whereby a desired image is recorded.
[0004]
By the way, in the image recording apparatus 1 configured as described above, the laser beam B is deflected by the polygon mirror 3 and is subjected to main scanning on the photosensitive drum 8, in order to ensure a desired recording range in the main scanning direction. Needs to set a long optical path length of the laser beam B from the polygon mirror 3 to the photosensitive drum 8.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-157173 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this case, if the optical path length of the laser beam B is set to be long, the outer dimensions h1 and W of the scanning unit 9 housing the optical system from the light source 2 to the second lens 7 become large. If it is arranged in a horizontally placed state as shown in FIG. 2, there arises a problem that the occupied floor area by the image recording apparatus 1 increases according to the outer dimension W.
[0007]
As a means for solving such a problem, for example, it is conceivable to reduce the size of the scanning unit by folding the laser beam B many times in the scanning unit 9 using a number of reflection mirrors.
[0008]
However, when configured in this way, a large number of optical components are required, so that the image recording apparatus 1 becomes extremely expensive. Further, since the configuration becomes complicated, various optical noises may affect the image information, and the image recording accuracy may be reduced.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an image processing apparatus that is small and inexpensive and can record or read an image with high accuracy without complicating the configuration. The purpose is to do.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention defines a rectangular parallelepiped as the outer shape of the space occupied by the light beam scanning unit constituting the image processing apparatus, and more than the outer dimension W which is the maximum width of the rectangular parallelepiped in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction of the light beam. The inclination θ of the rectangular parallelepiped is set so that the horizontal width of the light beam scanning unit is reduced.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an external view of a radiation image reading apparatus 10 to which the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. The radiographic image reading apparatus 10 includes a cassette loading unit 14 in an upper portion of a casing 12, and a cassette 18 that stores a stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in which radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded is loaded in the cassette loading unit 14. The A caster 20 for facilitating loading and unloading is disposed at the bottom of the casing 12, and an operation panel 22 for operating the radiation image reading apparatus 10 is disposed at the top surface. .
[0012]
Here, for example, when the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is irradiated with radiation, a part of the radiation energy is accumulated. After that, when the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light or laser light, the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 corresponds to the accumulated radiation energy. The radiation image information once accumulated and recorded can be erased by irradiating it with erasing light, so that it can be reused.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the radiation image reading apparatus 10. In the vicinity of the cassette loading unit 14 of the radiographic image reading apparatus 10, an adsorbing plate 26 that adsorbs and takes out the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 from the cassette 18 with the lid member 24 opened, and an accumulation that is taken out by the adsorbing plate 26. And a nip roller 28 that sandwiches and conveys the phosphor sheet 16. Further, a curved conveyance mechanism 34 that is connected to the nip roller 28 and has a plurality of conveyance rollers 30a to 30g and a plurality of guide plates 32a to 32h is disposed. The transport mechanism 34 transports the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 supplied from the cassette 18 to a desired site.
[0014]
A scanning unit 36 that emits a laser beam B that is excitation light and scans the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the radiation image reading apparatus 10. The laser beam B emitted from the scanning unit 36 is applied to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 from between the transport rollers 30d and 30e constituting the transport mechanism 34. In addition, a reading unit 38 is disposed in the vicinity of the scanning unit 36. The reading unit 38 has one end connected to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 between the transport rollers 30d and 30e and the other end of the light collecting guide 40, and is connected to the stimulable phosphor. The photomultiplier 42 converts the stimulated emission light obtained from the sheet 16 into an electric signal.
[0015]
Further, an erasing unit 46 for removing the radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 from which the radiation image information has been read is disposed between the nip roller 28 and the conveyance roller 30a constituting the conveyance mechanism 34. The erasing unit 46 has a plurality of erasing light sources 48 composed of halogen lamps or the like.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the scanning unit 36. The scanning unit 36 includes a semiconductor laser 50 that outputs a laser beam B that is excitation light, a collimator lens 52, a cylindrical lens 54 that constitutes a correction optical system, a polygon mirror 56, a first scanning lens 58, a second scanning lens 58, and a second scanning lens 58. And a scanning lens 60. These optical components are housed in the casing 62, and an opening for guiding the laser beam B to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is provided in a portion (see FIG. 2) of the casing 62 on the transport mechanism 34 side. 64 is formed. The opening 64 may be provided with a light transmitting glass or the like in order to protect the optical components constituting the scanning unit 36 from dust or the like.
[0017]
The radiation image reading apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described next.
[0018]
First, the cassette 18 in which the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in which the radiation image information is recorded is loaded into the cassette loading unit 14 of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 with the lid member 24 facing downward. When the cassette 18 is loaded, a lid opening mechanism (not shown) is driven, and the lid member 24 is opened in the radiation image reading apparatus 10.
[0019]
Next, the suction disk 26 sucks the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in the cassette 18 and supplies it to the nip roller 28. The nip roller 28 supplies the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 to the transport mechanism 34. The transport mechanism 34 drives the transport rollers 30a to 30g and transports the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 along the guide plates 32a to 32h.
[0020]
The stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is sub-scanned and conveyed between the conveyance rollers 30d and 30e, and the stimulable fluorescence is emitted in the main scanning direction in which the laser beam B, which is excitation light emitted from the scanning unit 36, is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. The body sheet 16 is scanned. That is, the laser beam B emitted from the semiconductor laser 50 is collimated by the collimator lens 52, then guided to the polygon mirror 56 through the cylindrical lens 54, and deflected in the main scanning direction. Next, the scanning speed and the focal position are adjusted by the first scanning lens 58 and the second scanning lens 60, and then guided to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 through the opening 64 of the casing 62.
[0021]
The stimulable phosphor sheet 16 irradiated with the laser beam B outputs stimulated emission light according to the stored and recorded radiation image information. This stimulated emission light is guided to the photomultiplier 42 constituting the reading unit 38 via the light collecting guide 40 arranged close to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in the main scanning direction, and converted into an electrical signal. The This electric signal can be transferred to an external image processing apparatus, subjected to desired image processing, and then displayed as necessary or output to a recording medium.
[0022]
The stimulable phosphor sheet 16 from which the radiation image information has been read is conveyed to the conveying roller 30g side, and then conveyed in reverse by the conveying mechanism 34, via an erasing unit 46 disposed between the nip roller 28 and the conveying roller 30a. It is stored in the cassette 18. At this time, the erasing light source 48 constituting the erasing unit 46 is turned on, and the erasing light that is output is irradiated onto the stimulable phosphor sheet 16, thereby removing the remaining radiation energy. The cassette 18 in which the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 from which the radiation energy has been removed is stored is taken out for the next radiographic image information after the radiographic image reader 10 is extracted.
[0023]
Next, the arrangement conditions of the scanning unit 36 in the radiation image reading apparatus 10 configured and operating as described above will be described.
[0024]
First, with respect to the scanning unit 36, the main scanning direction of the laser beam B is set to the X direction, and the Y direction and the Z direction orthogonal to each other are set in a plane perpendicular to the X direction. The Z direction is set to the maximum width direction occupied by the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36. In this case, in FIG. 3, the casing 62 constituting the scanning unit 36 is represented by a rectangular parallelepiped, and this rectangular parallelepiped indicates the maximum contour lines in the X, Y, and Z directions occupied by the constituent members of the scanning unit 36. . Therefore, the casing 62 itself does not necessarily have to be a rectangular parallelepiped.
[0025]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram in which the scanning unit 36 is projected onto the YZ plane. In FIG. 4, the outer dimensions of the casing 62 in the Y direction and the Z direction are h1 and W (W> h1), and the emission position of the laser beam B emitted from the opening 64 (see FIG. 3) of the casing 62 in the Y direction. The distance is h2, the arrival distance of the laser beam B from the emission position to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in the YZ plane is L, and the inclination in the Z direction measured clockwise from the horizontal line around the X direction is θ (0 (° <θ <90 °), and the inclination of the laser beam B measured from the horizontal line in the same clockwise direction as the inclination θ is φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90 °).
[0026]
In this case, the outer dimensions h1 and W of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36 are determined by the size and arrangement of the optical components housed in the casing 62, the number, the required optical path length of the laser beam B, and the like. Cannot be changed. On the other hand, the reach distance L of the laser beam B emitted from the casing 62 to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is treated, for example, by folding the laser beam B using an optical component disposed in the casing 62. Can be shortened. Therefore, the width K of the casing 12 of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 having the curved conveyance mechanism 34 shown in FIG. 2 depends on the outer dimensions h1 and W of the scanning unit 36.
[0027]
Therefore, in order to reduce the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10, the scanning unit 36 is disposed in the casing 12 in a state where the scanning unit 36 is inclined at a predetermined angle around the X direction.
[0028]
In this case, in the YZ plane, when the laser beam B is set so as to protrude from the range occupied by the horizontal direction of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36 (state of FIG. 4),
W · cos θ + h 2 · sin θ + L · cos φ <W (1)
(However, h1 · sin θ ≦ L · cos φ + h2 · sin θ)
By arranging the scanning unit 36 so as to satisfy the above condition, it is possible to make the occupation range in the horizontal direction of the scanning unit 36 smaller than when the scanning unit 36 is arranged with an inclination θ = 0 °. As a result, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0029]
Further, when the laser beam B does not protrude from the occupied range in the horizontal direction of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36 in the YZ plane,
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W (2)
(However, h1 · sinθ ≧ L · cosφ + h2 · sinθ)
By arranging the scanning unit 36 so as to satisfy the above condition, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be similarly reduced.
[0030]
On the other hand, when the laser beam B is emitted in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) to the inclination θ in the Z direction with an inclination φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90 °), the horizontal direction of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36 in the YZ plane. When the laser beam B does not protrude from the occupied range with respect to the direction (state in FIG. 5),
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W (3)
(However, L · cosφ−h2 · sinθ ≦ W · cosθ)
By arranging the scanning unit 36 so as to satisfy the above condition, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0031]
Further, when the laser beam B is set so as to protrude from the occupation range in the horizontal direction of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36,
L · cos φ + h1 · sin θ−h2 · sin θ <W (4)
(However, L · cosφ−h2 · sinθ ≧ W · cosθ)
By arranging the scanning unit 36 so as to satisfy the above condition, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0032]
In FIG. 6, an opening from which the laser beam B is emitted is formed on the surface of the casing 62 on the outer dimension W side, and the laser beam B is inclined φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90) in the same clockwise direction as the inclination θ in the Z direction. It is explanatory drawing which projected the scanning unit 36a inject | emitted by (degree) on the YZ plane. Note that FIG. 13 showing the prior art shows the outer dimensions h1 and W corresponding to FIG. 6 and the distance W2 from the end of the portion where the laser beam B is emitted for comparison.
[0033]
Assuming that the distance in the Z direction from the surface of the scanning unit 36a on the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 side to the emission position of the laser beam B is W2, the laser from the occupation range in the horizontal direction of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36a in the YZ plane. When beam B protrudes,
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ−W2 · cos θ + L · cos φ <W (5)
(However, L · cosφ ≧ W2 · cosθ)
By disposing the scanning unit 36a so as to satisfy the above condition, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0034]
Further, when the laser beam B does not protrude from the occupied range of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36a in the horizontal direction in the YZ plane (state of FIG. 6),
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W (6)
(However, L ・ cosφ ≦ W2 ・ cosθ)
By disposing the scanning unit 36a so as to satisfy the above condition, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0035]
On the other hand, in the scanning unit 36a shown in FIG. 6, when the laser beam B is emitted with the inclination φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90 °) in the opposite direction (counterclockwise direction) to the inclination θ in the Z direction, When the laser beam B protrudes from the horizontal occupation range of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36a,
h1 · sin θ + W2 · cos θ + L · cos φ <W (7)
(However, L · cosφ + W2 · cosθ ≧ W · cosθ)
By disposing the scanning unit 36a so as to satisfy the above condition, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0036]
Further, when the laser beam B does not protrude from the occupied range in the horizontal direction of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36a in the YZ plane (state of FIG. 7),
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W (8)
(However, L ・ cosφ + W2 ・ cosθ ≦ W ・ cosθ)
By disposing the scanning unit 36a so as to satisfy the above condition, the width K of the radiation image reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0037]
FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the horizontal width of the casing 62 of the scanning unit 36 in the YZ plane divided by the outer dimension W in the Z direction (W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ) / W and the inclination θ of the casing 62. Is expressed using h1 / W as a parameter. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the inclination θ of the casing 62 and h1 / W using (W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ) / W as a parameter.
[0038]
In this case, h1 / W representing the outer shape of the casing 62 is normally in the range of 1/5 to 1/3 in the radiation image reading apparatus 10, and in this range, the condition of W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W is satisfied. In order to satisfy the above, the inclination θ of the casing 62 needs to be 40 ° or more. On the other hand, the condensing guide 40 has one end on the side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 disposed along the main scanning direction, and a photomultiplier 42 is connected to the other end. Therefore, in order to avoid interference between the scanning unit 36 and the reading unit 38, the inclination θ of the casing 62 needs to be less than 90 °. For these reasons, the inclination θ of the casing 62 is preferably set in a range of 40 ° ≦ θ <90 °.
[0039]
In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the arrangement configuration of the optical elements housed in the scanning unit 36 corrects the surface tilt of the polygon mirror 56 on the downstream side of the second scanning lens 60 as shown in FIG. A cylindrical lens 66 may be disposed.
[0040]
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a folding mirror 68 is arranged on the downstream side of the second scanning lens 60, and the laser beam B folded by the folding mirror 68 is reflected by the cylindrical mirror 70 for correcting the tilting and accumulated. You may comprise so that it may guide | emit to the property fluorescent substance sheet 16. In this case, the light beam scanning unit can be further reduced.
[0041]
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a first scanning mirror 72 and a second scanning mirror 74 may be arranged downstream of the polygon mirror 56.
[0042]
As a configuration of the optical element accommodated in the scanning unit 36, it is needless to say that various configurations other than these configurations can be adopted.
[0043]
In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement conditions of the scanning units 36 and 36a constituting the radiation image reading apparatus 10 are described. However, the image recording for recording an image by scanning the scanning object with a light beam. Also in the apparatus, it is possible to provide an apparatus with a small occupied floor area by setting the arrangement conditions of the light beam scanning unit in the same manner. In addition to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16, roll paper, a photosensitive film, a photosensitive drum, or the like can be applied as the scanning object. In addition, the scanned object only needs to be sub-scanned relative to the main scanning light beam. Therefore, for example, the light beam scanning unit may be moved relative to the scanned object in the sub-scanning direction. Good.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the horizontal width of the image processing apparatus can be set small by arranging the light beam scanning unit inclined at a predetermined condition, thereby reducing the installation area. it can. In addition, by optimizing the arrangement conditions of the light beam scanning unit, the optical components constituting the light beam scanning unit can be reduced in size, or the light beam can be bent by using a number of optical components to bend the light beam. Since it is not necessary to reduce the size of the unit itself, the cost of the apparatus can be easily reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a radiation image reading apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the radiation image reading apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an internal configuration and arrangement parameters of a scanning unit in the radiation image reading apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement parameter of a scanning unit in the radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement parameter of a scanning unit in the radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement parameter of a scanning unit in the radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement parameter of a scanning unit in the radiation image reading apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a relationship diagram with respect to an arrangement parameter of a scanning unit in the radiation image reading apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a relationship diagram with respect to an arrangement parameter of a scanning unit in the radiation image reading apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of a scanning unit.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of a scanning unit.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of a scanning unit.
FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Radiation image reader 12, 62 ... Casing 16 ... Storage phosphor sheet 18 ... Cassette 34 ... Conveyance mechanism 36, 36a ... Scanning unit 38 ... Reading unit B ... Laser beam

Claims (4)

In an image processing apparatus for recording or reading an image by performing main scanning with a light beam on a scanned object,
A light beam scanning unit including a light source that outputs the light beam, a deflector that deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction, and an optical system that guides the light beam to the scanned object;
When the outer shape of the rectangular parallelepiped consisting of the main scanning direction and the Y direction and the Z direction orthogonal to each other set on a plane orthogonal to the main scanning direction is defined for the light beam scanning unit, The outer dimension in the Y direction is h1, the outer dimension in the Z direction of the rectangular parallelepiped is W (W> h1), and the distance from the outer shape of the exit position of the light beam emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped to the Y direction is h2. The distance from the emission position to the scanned object in the YZ plane is L, the inclination in the Z direction with respect to the horizontal line is θ (0 ° <θ <90 °), and the light beam is emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped. An inclination in the YZ plane with respect to a horizontal line of the light beam, and an inclination measured from the same direction as the inclination θ is φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90 °),
W · cos θ + h2 · sin θ + L · cos φ <W
(However, h1 · sin θ ≦ L · cos φ + h2 · sin θ)
Or
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W
(However, h1 · sinθ ≧ L · cosφ + h2 · sinθ)
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the relation is set. In an image processing apparatus for recording or reading an image by performing main scanning with a light beam on a scanned object,
A light beam scanning unit including a light source that outputs the light beam, a deflector that deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction, and an optical system that guides the light beam to the scanned object;
When the outer shape of the rectangular parallelepiped consisting of the main scanning direction and the Y direction and the Z direction orthogonal to each other set on a plane orthogonal to the main scanning direction is defined for the light beam scanning unit, The outer dimension in the Y direction is h1, the outer dimension in the Z direction of the rectangular parallelepiped is W (W> h1), and the distance from the outer shape of the exit position of the light beam emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped to the Y direction is h2. The distance from the emission position to the scanned object in the YZ plane is L, the inclination in the Z direction with respect to the horizontal line is θ (0 ° <θ <90 °), and the light beam is emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped. An inclination in the YZ plane with respect to a horizontal line of the light beam, and an inclination measured from a direction opposite to the inclination θ is φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90 °),
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W
(However, L · cosφ−h2 · sinθ ≦ W · cosθ)
Or
L · cosφ + h1 · sinθ−h2 · sinθ <W
(However, L · cosφ−h2 · sinθ ≧ W · cosθ)
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the relation is set. In an image processing apparatus for recording or reading an image by performing main scanning with a light beam on a scanned object,
A light beam scanning unit including a light source that outputs the light beam, a deflector that deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction, and an optical system that guides the light beam to the scanned object;
When the outer shape of the rectangular parallelepiped consisting of the main scanning direction and the Y direction and the Z direction orthogonal to each other set on a plane orthogonal to the main scanning direction is defined for the light beam scanning unit, The outer dimension in the Y direction is h1, the outer dimension in the Z direction of the rectangular parallelepiped is W (W> h1), and the distance from the outer shape of the light beam emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped to the Z direction is W2. The distance from the emission position to the scanned object in the YZ plane is L, the inclination in the Z direction with respect to the horizontal line is θ (0 ° <θ <90 °), and the light beam is emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped. An inclination in the YZ plane with respect to a horizontal line of the light beam, and an inclination measured from the same direction as the inclination θ is φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90 °),
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ−W2 · cos θ + L · cos φ <W
(However, L · cosφ ≧ W2 · cosθ)
Or
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W
(However, L ・ cosφ ≦ W2 ・ cosθ)
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the relation is set. In an image processing apparatus for recording or reading an image by performing main scanning with a light beam on a scanned object,
A light beam scanning unit including a light source that outputs the light beam, a deflector that deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction, and an optical system that guides the light beam to the scanned object;
When the outer shape of the rectangular parallelepiped consisting of the main scanning direction and the Y direction and the Z direction orthogonal to each other set on a plane orthogonal to the main scanning direction is defined for the light beam scanning unit, The outer dimension in the Y direction is h1, the outer dimension in the Z direction of the rectangular parallelepiped is W (W> h1), and the distance from the outer shape of the light beam emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped to the Z direction is W2. The distance from the emission position to the scanned object in the YZ plane is L, the inclination in the Z direction with respect to the horizontal line is θ (0 ° <θ <90 °), and the light beam is emitted from the rectangular parallelepiped. An inclination in the YZ plane with respect to a horizontal line of the light beam, and an inclination measured from a direction opposite to the inclination θ is φ (0 ° ≦ φ ≦ 90 °),
h1 · sin θ + W2 · cos θ + L · cos φ <W
(However, L · cosφ + W2 · cosθ ≧ W · cosθ)
Or
W · cos θ + h1 · sin θ <W
(However, L ・ cosφ + W2 ・ cosθ ≦ W ・ cosθ)
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the relation is set.

Images